Aaron Eckhart leading action movie for first time

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Aaron Eckhart is attached to take the lead role in an action movie for the first time.

The art-house specialist, who had one of his biggest roles to date in the summer, playing Harvey Dent/Two-Face in the Batman sequel “The Dark Knight,” will now star in the sci-fi actioner “Battle: Los Angeles.”

The story revolves around a Marine platoon’s encounter in the battle on the streets of Los Angeles against an alien invasion. Eckhart will play the platoon leader.

Jonathan Liebesman (“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning”) will direct the Columbia Pictures project, which has yet to set a start date.

Eckhart made his name working on smaller films, such as “In the Company of Men” and “Thank You for Smoking.” He returns to theaters next year opposite Jennifer Aniston in the romantic drama “Traveling.”